You may know Candis Cayne as a voice of reason on E!’s I Am Cait, or if you’re gay and lived in New York City, or frequented Barracuda anytime within the past 15 years — but the iconic trans performer getting back to acting next week on an all-new episode of NBC’s medical drama Heartbeat.

In the episode, titled “Permanent Glitter,” she plays Ava, a trans woman diagnosed with breast cancer. When Dr. Alex Panttiere (Melissa George) recommends an aggressive treatment to save her life, Ava learns that the body she spent a lifetime transitioning into will never be the same.

“The storyline explores the hardships that all cancer patients must face – fear of death and the unknown, and the sometimes crippling uncertainty of what the future holds,” NBC says in a press statement.

“And through the character of Ava, we learn that it’s not a breast, or a scar, or our appearance that defines us, but our inner strength and courage.”

Good for NBC for offering a different perspective in healthcare! Make sure to check out Candis Cayne on Heartbeat, May 4 at 8/7c on NBC.